Highlights

Wonky chimney would be problematic for Santa as well as the planners

HighlightsTelford News

A Telford resident is in a tangle with planners after building a storage unit on a parking space without first getting planning permission.

There are also issues with “misaligned corrugated sheeting“, a “wonky chimney” and plans allegedly not matching up with what a planning officer found had been built.

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Plans to replace bungalow with two three-storey buildings

HighlightsTelford News

A landowner in Wellington has applied for planning permission to demolish a bungalow and replace it with eight new homes in two new three-storey buildings.

The new buildings would replace one three-bedroom bungalow on a plot at Constitution Hill, Wellington, with two townhouses and a total of six apartments.

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Police council tax set to rise for Telford

HighlightsTelford CrimeTelford News

Mr Campion is proposing a £15 annual increase for the average household, but he says even this will not be enough to bridge the gap.

“To put it simply, my hands are tied,” said PCC John Campion. “Whilst the Government will claim record uplift of funding for policing, they do not make it clear that it is at the expense of inflation-busting council tax rises.”

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New SpongeBob movie is a letdown for me

HighlightsTelford EntertainmentTelford News

Jason Wright went to see the latest Spongebob film and has this suggestion for you…

I headed down to Southwater in Telford this weekend to see if the yellow sponge still has it. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants tries to bring back the charm of my childhood, but…

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Shifnal HMO plan at dentist turned down

HighlightsTelford News

Shifnal Dental Care, which has been in the town since 1971, relocated to the former Odfellows Wine Bar in Market Place last year following a state-of-the-art refurbishment.

In October, practice owner Dr Maciej Wozniak submitted an application for permission to turn the first floor into an HMO.

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School heads on fact-finding visit to Telford College

HighlightsTelford News

Head teachers and leaders from local schools visited Telford College to learn more about potential placement opportunities they could offer to T Level students.

A delegation from the Learning Community Trust, which runs more than a dozen school sites across the county, visited the college’s Wellington campus to chat with students on business and accounting courses.

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Untidy land notice slapped on property in Telford

HighlightsTelford News

An enforcement notice has been slapped on a property in Telford after the borough council received a complaint about alleged untidy land.

The notice was served on the property in Beckbury Drive, Stirchley, on December 12 this year after Telford & Wrekin Council received a complaint on October 20.

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Telford College students serve up a festive feast

HighlightsTelford NewsTelford People

Students from Telford College laid on a festive food feast for members of a local community dining group.

Public uniformed services students joined forces with catering students to treat members of the Dawley Dinner group to a Christmas meal in the Orange Tree restaurant on the college’s Wellington campus.

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Four arrested during Telford pub immigration raid

FeatureHighlightsTelford CrimeTelford News

Four individuals were arrested for immigration offences during the visit on 17 December. The group included two Indian nationals and two Nepalese nationals.

West Mercia Police supported Immigration Enforcement during the action. The Fire Service also attended the premises on the same evening and provided a list of required improvements.

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Wellington householder denied retrospective planning permission

FeatureHighlightsTelford News

A householder has been refused retrospective planning permission for work carried out on a house in Wellington after officials alleged that it had broken the rules.

Planners wrote that it is “considered disproportionate in size in relation to the existing host dwelling, being substantial in scale and massing”.

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Trolley problem on Telford housing estate shows signs of improvement

FeatureHighlightsTelford News

Abandoned shopping trolleys continue to be an issue in parts of Telford despite a parish council’s best efforts, a meeting heard.

Parish warden Glyn Johnson, who picks up abandoned trolleys from across the area, said that there has been a “big improvement” in the abandoned trolley situation but the “only downfall is kids moving them, but you are always going to get that”.

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Little Wenlock bungalow plans rejected after residents object

HighlightsTelford NewsTelford People

“As a fourth-generation family from New Works, we have deep ties to the village and its heritage,” wrote one objector.

“Throughout our family’s lifetime, there has never been a demonstrated need for further development here.”

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Food bank donation in time for Christmas

HighlightsTelford NewsTelford People

Students at a Newport secondary school have made generous donations to the town’s food bank to help those in need in time for Christmas.

The pupils at Burton Borough School collected over 250 items, and Newport Food Bank manager of volunteers Matt Partridge visited the school to receive the donation.

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Newport swimmers give cracking performance at Christmas gala

HighlightsTelford NewsTelford Sport

Swimmers from Newport & District Amateur Swimming Club delivered outstanding performances at its inaugural Christmas Cracker open meet with 60 podium places. 

The talented squad of 34 competed in the event on 6 December at Wolverhampton Central Baths, showing their strength across all age groups and disciplines, taking home 23 gold, 15 silver and 22 bronze medals.

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ANPR Cameras approved at KFC

HighlightsTelford News

A popular Telford car park’s automatic number plate cameras and warning signs finally have planning permission after six years without consent.

Planners have granted retrospective planning permission for two ANPR cameras and 14 warning signs near the KFC and Starbucks at Trench Lock, in Hadley, that were installed on October 9, 2019.

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Schools join forces for a special celebration of music and community

FeatureHighlightsTelford NewsTelford People

Students from 13 different Shropshire schools came together to give a very special musical performance.

The Learning Community Trust hosted the first-ever performance of its LCT Choir at New Road Academy in Telford, describing it as a milestone in its mission to unite students through creativity and shared experiences.

Full gallery on the website.

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“I no longer feel safe walking in the street”

HighlightsTelford News

A Telford resident has told planners how unsafe they feel with the way the area around their home has changed over the last 12 years.

The woman from Dudmaston in Hollinswood was responding to a council consultation over a care company’s plan to change a seven-bedroom house in Telford into a children’s home.

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New homes ready in St Georges regeneration project

HighlightsTelford News

Nuplace tenants are beginning to move into new homes in St Georges as a major regeneration project.

The brand new new homes for private rent starting at £900 per month, located at the Gower, are now ready for occupation.

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Telford hotel brings Christmas joy to local children

HighlightsTelford News

Christmas came early for some Telford and Shropshire families last week as an independent hotel opened its doors to support Little Stars Charity.

Hadley Park House Hotel has a packed programme of Christmas events, but staff took time out of their busy schedule to put on a magical Christmas party for families facing the challenges of the continuing cost-of-living crisis.

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More than 50 public objections but plans approved

HighlightsTelford News

Plans for a children’s home in Telford have been passed despite a large number of objections from the local community.

More than 50 objections had been made from the public and Wellington Town Council had twice objected after plans that were changed went out for consultation on two occasions.

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Student council selects ‘really meaningful’ charity to support

HighlightsTelford News

Telford College’s student council is supporting a campaign to reduce the number of young people affected by suicide.

The student council said it selected the ‘really meaningful’ charity because of its work to shatter the stigma surrounding suicide, and to equip young people and their communities with the skills to recognise and respond to emotional distress.

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Telford targeted, but it can’t be that bad, can it?

FeatureHighlightsTelford NewsTelford Talking Shop

Andy Smith takes a look a worrying piece of news about Telford, but tries to put a brave face on it.

In a story by Harry Warner on Joe.co.uk headlined “All 23 UK towns and cities on Russian ‘target list’ revealed by ex-Russian Deputy PM“, Telford gets a mention, and I’m excited, proud and disappointed all at once.

First a bit of background.  An ex-Russian Deputy PM has p…

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Telford MP hosts SEND Roundtable

HighlightsTelford NewsTelford People

Shaun Davies, member of parliament for Telford, has taken an important step toward understanding the education system for children with special educational needs by hosting a roundtable earlier this month at Parents Opening Doors.

Shaun was joined by parents with lived experience in the division as well as key partners in the community; Telford & Wrekin Council, CVS and Parents Opening Doors (PODS).

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Tributes pour in following death of council ‘titan’ Malcolm Smith BEM

HighlightsTelford NewsTelford People

Tributes have flooded in after the death of a ‘titan’ of local government in Telford.

Councillor Malcolm Smith BEM had been a councillor at parish and borough level for more than 50 years and served on Hadley and Leegomery Parish Council, the former Wrekin Council and its successor Telford & Wrekin Council.

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Costs still outpacing turnover for ‘worried’ Shropshire businesses

HighlightsTelford BusinessTelford News

Many businesses said they were still feeling the effects of her 2024 announcements, which piled on extra staffing costs – and said wage demands were showing no sign of easing.

One employer from the manufacturing sector said: “Business owners are workers too, and probably work more hours for a lower hourly rate than most. I may consider selling up or moving the company abroad.”

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Telford leader’s ‘send you to Llandudno’ joke brings the pre-Christmas house down

HighlightsTelford News

A council leader’s pre-Christmas joke about finding the money to send his opposite number permanently to Llandudno brought the house down at a meeting this week.

Councillors were discussing making a commitment to their £5,000-each Pride Fund which has been used to support community projects when Telford & Wrekin Council’s leader and opposition chief entered a light-hearted tangle.

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Telford cyclists fare better in recently released collision data

HighlightsTelford News

New data has highlighted regional road safety, revealing that more than 150 cyclists were injured in traffic collisions across the West Mercia Police area over the last year. While Shropshire tops the list with 45 injuries, Telford & Wrekin is in third place, recording 22.

Of the 168 recorded incidents, the outcomes for riders were often severe. The police data logged two fatalities, 51 serious injuries and 115 slight injuries.

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Historic school exceeds sale price

HighlightsTelford News

The former Church of England School on St Luke’s Road in Ironbridge, known locally as the ‘Blue School’, proved to be a popular lot at Halls’ final property and land auction of the year, selling above its guide price for £125,000. The Grade II listed building was part of a successful collective property and land auction on Friday that saw 17 lots sell for a combined total of £2.2 million across Shropshire and Cheshire.

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New inclusive living development in Ironbridge

HighlightsTelford NewsTelford People

A new supported living scheme has welcomed its first residents in Ironbridge. The Heritage Walk development includes 12 purpose-built supported living homes, developed by Telford & Wrekin Council in partnership with the learning disability charity Hft and housebuilder Lioncourt Homes.

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“Golden hellos” offered to NHS Dental specialists

HighlightsTelford News

Health officials are ‘hopeful’ that they will find dentists to fill a longstanding gap in NHS provision in southeast Telford.

A meeting was told that ‘golden hello’ payments are being offered to dentists and support staff as well as an increase in the amount that they can get paid for carrying out work for the NHS.

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Head Boy Joe finishes swim challenge

HighlightsTelford NewsTelford People

A student at Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby has completed a massive 21-mile swimming challenge this month, raising a remarkable amount of money for Cancer Research UK.

Joe Costello, 17, finished his final lengths on Saturday morning, achieving his goal of swimming the equivalent width of the English Channel.

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Improvements to community centre outdoor area thanks to local developer

HighlightsTelford BusinessTelford News

A Telford community centre has received a welcome boost to its outdoor space, thanks to a generous donation from the construction firm behind a new housing development nearby.

RSJ Builders, which recently completed 19 new homes for Housing Plus Group off Furnace Lane in Trench, has donated outdoor furniture and a raised planter to Silver Threads Hall.

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